Robert m



(NOMode1.)

R. M. APPLETON.

S T 0 0 K I N G Patented Nov. 5, 1889.

UNITED STATES PATENT rrrcn.

S T 0 C K I N G SPECIFICATION formingpa.rt of Letters Patent No. 4;14,4'79, dated November 5, 1889.

* Application filed April i, 1888. Serial l!l'o. 269,624. (No model.)

To aZl whom' it may concern.-

Be it known that I, ROBERT M. APPLE'1ON, a subject of the Queen of Great Britain and Ireland, residing at Boston, Suffolk county, Massachusetts, have invented certain Improvements in Stockings, of which the following is a specification.

The object of my invention is to produce a cheap stocking having a foot of less diameter than the leg of the stocking, thisfoot being without seams in the body portion and having a heel of a more acceptable character than the heels of ordinary out stockings, and this object I attain in the manner hereinafter set forth, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, in which Figures 1, f3, 3, and 4 represent the successive stages in the manufacture of a stocking or stocking-blank in accordance with my invention.

A perfectly-fittin g stocking should have the foot portion of less diameter than the tube forming the leg, but heretofore this resulthas only been attained in the higher grades of stockings by resorting to elaborate and expensive operations for the formation of the foot. By my invention, however, I make a cheap stocking having a foot of less diameter than the leg, and otherwise more acceptable than the usual cheap out stockings, and in carrying out my invention I proceed as follows:

A tube A of the proper diameter for the leg of the stocking is first knitted upon a machine of any desired character, that portion of this tube from a to a being preferably knitted with a double thread or a thread heavier than that employed in knitting the restof the tube. In this portion of the tube I then form an incision b, Fig. 2-, by cutting the tube on the line (Zd, an(l I then apply this out portion of the tube to the needles of a knitting-machine of smaller diameter than that used in making the tube for the leg, the stitches around the portion d of the tube being run onto the needles of the smaller head stitch for stitch, as said stitches form part of a continuous course, so that a seamless union is formed between the foot and ankle over the instep. lhe portions d, however, consist of the ends of successive courses of stitches, and these portions are therefore simply pressed or jabbed upon the remaining needles of the head, the character of the incision 12 being preferably such that the portions ('6 d of the tube will just fill the needles of the smaller head. After the application of the fabric to the needles of the smaller head has thus been effected a knitted tube B is formed upon the latter, as shown in Fig. 3, this tube being of the proper diameter for the foot of the stocking to be produced.

On completing the formation of the tube and removing the same from the smallerhead the stocking will present the appearance shown in Fig. %l-, all that remains to be done being to sew up or otherwise close the toe portion of the tube and trim off the surplus material, as indicated by dotted lines in Fig. and to loop together on an ordinary seaming-machine the edges ff at the bottom of the heel, the joinings of the front edges of the heel and the rear edges of the body portion of the foot being of an unobjectionable character, as they are simply formed by knitring the first course of the foottube to the edges d cl.

Although, as stated, it is preferable to form the heel portion of the stocking with a double thread or a thread heavier than that used for forming the foot and leg, this is not abso lutely essential to the proper carrying out of my invention.

I do not claim, broadly, a stocking having a seamless foot-tube less in diameter than the leg-tube, as this has heretofore been proposed; but v I claim as my invention and desire to secure by Letters Patent A stocking having a leg consisting of a tube having at the lower end a heel-pocket integral therewith, said heel-pocket being seamed at the bottom, but having raw or out front edges, and the body of the foot consisting of a seamless tube less in diameter than the leg, the upper portion of this tube forming a seamless union with the front portion of the leg-tube, and the lower portion of said foottube being connected to the raw or on t edges at the front of the heel-pocket, substantially as specified.

In testimony whereof I have sign ed my name to this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

ROBERT APPLI1ON.

W'itnesses JOHN A. STRALEY, GREENLEAF CLARKE I O I) 

